This volume represents a new era in crisis intervention. It is the first book ever written on Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) as a comprehensive crisis response program. For the first time the essential question of CISM as a standard of care in crisis intervention is addressed.Although it has been only two years since the first edition was published, a second edition was needed. This need was created by virtue of a dramatic increase in the expressed interest in, proliferation of, and empirical investigation surrounding crisis theory, crisis intervention, and specifically Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) and Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM). Even though the field of crisis intervention has been in existence over 90 years, there still remains considerable disagreement and confusion surrounding the most basic of definitions. Obviously, when a field cannot agree upon basic definitions, it has difficulty in communication, research, and standardization of practice. This text was created to assist in the resolution of definitional dilemmas and the creation of operating standards through the refinement of operating definitions and protocols.

In addition, this revision provides an updated review on research issues and findings relevant to the entire field of emergency mental health.